10,000 new players join football’s ALDI MiniRoos program

10,000 new girls and boys have signed up to the ALDI MiniRoos ‘Kick-Off’ program so far this year, as football’s popularity and participation continues to grow.

Already the largest club-based participation sport in Australia by a wide margin, the number of players across the game is expected to grow further in the coming months following the massive interest in the Caltex Socceroos at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and the high ranking for the Westfield Matildas in next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.

The MiniRoos format was launched nationally in 2015 and has become the largest introductory program in Australian sport. It is expected to hit 250,000 players within two years.

Overseen by Football Federation Australia (FFA), the program is run by local clubs and associations. The ‘Kick-Off’ program, which runs year round, is designed for new players aged between four and nine and feeds into regular ALDI MiniRoos football.

FFA’s Head of Community, Football Development and Women’s Football, Emma Highwood, said football was increasingly the choice of parents with young children because it was fun, safe, accessible and genuinely inclusive.

“Everyone is welcome in football regardless of their background, gender or ability – and parents know that,” said Highwood.

“We’re delighted that another 10,000 kids have joined the ALDI MiniRoos Kick-Off program so far this year. What is even more pleasing is that 30 per cent of the new players are girls.

“Football has been a trailblazer for women’s sport in Australia and we are seeing the impact of this with the number of girls taking up the game. And of course having the Socceroos and Matildas competing in World Cups is also inspiring kids to play football,” she said.

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